Why FG spent 80% of budget on construction industry –Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Thursday, said the Federal Government has chanelled over 80% of the N247bn so far released for capital projects in the 2016 budget to the construction industry because of its desire to create employment and reflate the economy.

The minister, who stated this when the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, CCESSA, visited him in Abuja, said the construction industry plays a strategic role in job creation.

“The idea is that government wants to reflate the economy and put money in the hands of the people through these construction companies that have millions of Nigerians in their employ”, Ngige said.

The minister also called on the construction companies to reciprocate the efforts of government by mobilising to sites and also recall all workers earlier disengaged, to forestall worsening unemployment index and further aggravate the fragile security situation in the country.

“For the little we have done, we want to see you people in action. Another chunk of money is going to be paid as the economy improves and things get better.

“The budget also has a special provision for settling outstanding debts and for the completion of on-going projects.

“Through these, government intends to take away our youths from idleness, fruitfully engage them, and avoid making them easy recruits for insurgents”, he stated.